Luxury or Pauperism

imported
#1

Do you hike and wish for everything that you have at home?
Or do you learn to appreciate the greatness of simplicity?

Do you stay in a town for days on end, or do you go in, get your laundry, a shower and food, and return to your new home in the Wilderness?

Do you see yourself acting the same way you did at the begining of the trip…longing for luxuries, needing contact with towns, or do you enjoy the ground beneath your head, and the piece of mind that walking in solitude can bring?

Are the sounds of traffic, towns, and loud noises the things that make you fell in place, or do the wind, streams, and birds give you all you need?

Would you prefer to spend a lot of money to live in comfort once a week, or go with only what you need…truthfully need, not things you believe you need.

The simpliest of lives are sometimes the grandest, as you see who you are without distractions of a material nature.

RandomHiker

#2

Right on!8)The simple life for me.

woodstrider

#3

Simple life except for computer and trains;) :boy

FreightTrain

#4

Luxury or Pauperism
Q: Do you hike and wish for everything that you have at home? Or do you learn to appreciate the greatness of simplicity?

A: I actually liked the simplicity. Everyday was a no brainer. All I had to worry about was putting one foot in front of the other.

Q: Do you stay in a town for days on end, or do you go in, get your laundry, a shower and food, and return to your new home in the Wilderness?

A: There were a few towns where I took a double zero but usually it was in and out.

Q: Do you see yourself acting the same way you did at the begining of the trip…longing for luxuries, needing contact with towns, or do you enjoy the ground beneath your head, and the piece of mind that walking in solitude can bring?

A: I definately found a change in myself as the miles disappeared under my feet.

Q: Are the sounds of traffic, towns, and loud noises the things that make you fell in place, or do the wind, streams, and birds give you all you need?

A: Please… I hated the sounds of the real world as they crashed in on me as I got nearer and nearer to town. I loved the sound of the wind and the feel of it on my face. Nothing like sleeping hung close to a babling brook. Birds were my company during the day. (I will say there was one very loud Whiporwhil in VA that woke me at 4:30 a.m. that I wasn’t too fond of…)

Q: Would you prefer to spend a lot of money to live in comfort once a week, or go with only what you need…truthfully need, not things you believe you need.

A: Not sure how to answer this one? I carried a lite pack and did without a lot of luxeries. However, some of the things I did carry others considered luxeries…

Author statement: The simpliest of lives are sometimes the grandest, as you see who you are without distractions of a material nature

My statement: I concur… Sue/HH
:girl

Hammock Hanger

#5

Isn’t there a compromise between the two?

Owl Avenue

#6

  1. The simple life thank you. Love being responsible for nothing but myself.

  2. Can’t think of an intentional 2-day zero. (Leg breaking doesn’t count).

  3. Limited longing as the tension melted away with each step. The hot showers were nice though.

  4. See #3

  5. Hummm… I can definitely do 5-star as well as basics. I’m with Owl Avenue – compromise between the two? Overall preference? Simple please.

Thanks for reminding me. Aloha!

Aloha! Ann

#7

I noticed on my week long walk on the AT that many hikers aim for the Shelters rather than camp between them. I suppose for some the luxury of the friendly comaraderie is a draw. For some it may be the luxury of the privies at Shelter sites.

My best experience was at Justus Creek where there was the luxury of running water which lulled me to sleep with it’s constant babble, the luxury of quiet (except when the US Army Rangers practiced their night maneuver skirmishes), and the luxury of meeting both northbound and southbound hikers as they passed by. The luxury of having many woodsy places to use for exploring and private privy privileges was a bonus. At night when all was quiet, there was the luxury of seeing stars high in the sky. If anyone had the luxury of not having to make “big” mileage then Justus Creek was a luxurious spot indeed.

I had hoped to see a bear but there were none at Jusus Creek – they were all at the Shelters harrassing the thru-hikers there.

Skylander